John Kerry could emulate John Kenneth Galbraith

Retrospectively speaking, India ought to remember John Kenneth Galbraith. He was the late professor of economics with strong attachment to Harvard University and a true friend of India. He was the former ambassador of the United States to India during the John. F. Kennedy presidency. Under his guidance and advice, one of the very first institutes of Computer Science was established in India. It is important to realize that at that time, no one saw any reason or potential in investing in computer science education. Therefore he was a true pioneer. That is how it all began, and now India’s image in the world is associated with the hub of the IT sector.

That is what visionaries do. Sow seeds. John Kenneth Galbraith helped India realize its potential by investing in education and establishing partnerships in research. Both America and India can build on this foundation. John Kerry and John Kenneth Galbraith share the same first name and they are equally tall and slim. And they both could and should be remembered if the slogan “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas” results in some concrete, tangible results. We need more inter-university co-operation, more exchange programmes, more business exchanges, etc.

Time has arrived for the two superpowers of democracy and well-functioning civil societies to get together. One hardly needs to mention the pressing global and local challenges in both the Middle-East and Asia that are making a case for bigger and better co-operation between India and USA.

I have a sister who lives in Florida, and my other sister’s daughter is studying engineering in USA. This narrative is no longer unique to my family. It is a representative of innumerable families in India who have one or more relatives living, studying or working in USA.

We are connected, closely connected, and these personal relationships matter. All those who live in USA are our ambassadors, and while India and USA embark on a new journey together, it is important for India to make the case that India is not America’s competitor but its partner. We are as such not fond of becoming number one. Our record in gold medals at Olympics speaks volumes about a laidback philosophy. Our successful Yoga centers in New York illustrate that we are champions of love and compassion. We have created a country in Asia with over 1500 languages and have most of the world´s faiths represented in our country. We are a country that includes, not excludes.

Sushma Swaraj and John Kerry will have to work hard to pave the path for Narendra Modi and Barack Obama to eventually bring this partnership so close that it starts making a difference in the lives of people of both countries. Contemporary India should thank John Kenneth Galbraith, who by laying the foundation stone of a computer science department in an engineering institute initiated the rise of a new upcoming India.

India and USA are both cultural superpowers. America has its Hollywood and India its Bollywood. It is time that both Hollywood and Bollywood can start more collaboration, as well. Culture matters.

We are lucky that the United States of America has a president whose mother held a Ph.D in anthropology. Barack Obama was one of the few presidents who remembered to wish Happy Diwali to Indians living in USA. Soon it will be Diwali, and while there are moments of regret in our past, India and USA stand at a new threshold where we have to let go of the old and ring in the new.

Yes, both of these countries have to get a lot of business done. But let us not forget that we have a lot in common and both countries have many good reasons to be thankful to the other. While India regains its strength and reshapes its foreign policy, it must tell USA that we are not their competitor but their partner. And if they insist on competition, then let us tell them we would like to win in having the largest number of English speakers. To be on the safe side, India has a fairly good chance to win that competition.

If John Kerry has made an effort to say something in Hindi, then we should also let him know that in every nook and corner of India and even in the most dilapidated slums of India, he will be able to find English-speaking enthusiasts.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Author

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored many analytical articles on Asia and India in several Danish newspapers. He has studied anthropology at Copenhagen University and has specialized in human rights and democratization. Mrutyuanjai Mishra has spent half of his life in India and the other half in the Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden.
Mrutyuanjai Mishra is also a consultant lecturer on issues related to India and Asia at institutions of higher education.
He is currently working on a book on India to be used for higher educational purposes in Scandinavian countries.

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored m. . .

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Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored many analytical articles on Asia and India in several Danish newspapers. He has studied anthropology at Copenhagen University and has specialized in human rights and democratization. Mrutyuanjai Mishra has spent half of his life in India and the other half in the Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden.
Mrutyuanjai Mishra is also a consultant lecturer on issues related to India and Asia at institutions of higher education.
He is currently working on a book on India to be used for higher educational purposes in Scandinavian countries.

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored m. . .